A charity named after the late Queen Elizabeth II has been established on the centenary of her birth with a one-off initial £40m endowment provided by the government.
King Charles will be patron of the Queen Elizabeth Trust, which will work with local communities to provide funding and targeted support to “restore and sustain shared spaces at the heart of local life”.
Local projects it may support could include the development of underused buildings and green spaces as well as neighbourhood hubs in communities across the UK.
Funding will also help communities ensure they have access to the skills and training they require to deliver local events.
BBC deputy chair Damon Buffini will chair the new charity, while National Gallery chair John Booth and Diana Award deputy chief executive Alex Holmes have been appointed as trustees.
Buffini said: “I’m honoured and excited to have been chosen as the founding chair of the Queen Elizabeth Trust to help guide its direction from the start.
“This is a real chance to support communities across the United Kingdom and bring shared spaces back to life: places where people of all ages and backgrounds can meet, connect, and belong.
“I’ve seen first-hand the difference these spaces can make, creating opportunities, sparking connections, and giving people a sense of pride in where they live. At a time when so many feel disconnected, this work feels more important than ever.”
The charity’s formation was recommended by the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee, following over two years of engagement with various groups across the UK.
Lord Janvrin, chair of the committee, said: “I hope this new charity will encourage people to remember the life and service of the late queen by recognising the importance she attached to strengthening that sense of engagement and belonging amongst local communities.”
Further information on the new charity’s funding criteria is due to be shared in the coming months.
A previous charity called the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust supported community leaders across the Commonwealth for eight years before closing in 2019.
Last year, Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People, named after Queen Elizabeth II’s mother, announced plans to close after 90 years.
